When dealing with square roots, particularly in the context of exponents, the general rule is as follows:

1. Simplifying Square Roots: If you have a square root, like $\sqrt{a}$, and you can express $a$ as a product of a perfect square and another factor (e.g., $a = b^2 \cdot c$), you can simplify it to $b\sqrt{c}$.

2. Adding Exponents Under Square Roots: If you're combining square roots (e.g., $\sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b}$), you cannot directly add them unless $a$ and $b$ are the same (in which case it becomes $2\sqrt{a}$). However, if you're multiplying square roots, like $\sqrt{a} \cdot \sqrt{b}$, you can combine them under one square root: $\sqrt{ab}$.

3. Exponents in Square Roots: When you have a number with an exponent under a square root, you can simplify it. For example, $\sqrt{x^2} = x$ (assuming $x$ is non-negative). If you have $\sqrt{x^4} = x^2$ and $\sqrt{x^3}$ cannot be simplified completely, but can be expressed as $x\sqrt{x}$.

Would you like more details on a specific aspect, or do you have any questions? Here are some related questions:

1. What are the rules for simplifying cube roots?
2. How do you handle exponents that are fractions under square roots?
3. Can you give examples of combining square roots with different bases?
4. What happens with negative numbers under square roots?
5. How do square roots relate to complex numbers?

Tip: Always look for perfect squares when simplifying square roots, as they can help you reduce expressions effectively.